Autumn Tree Study

We did another nature study from the Handbook of Nature Study blog. For this challenge we were to choose a tree that we are to study through the seasons for  a year. We’ve studied about some trees around our house during the last year or so, but this will be our start to studying one tree for a year. My kids spent quite a bit of time trying to decide which tree they wanted to study. (We have a lot of trees to choose from.) They finally decided that they would each do their own tree.

Besides reading from the Handbook of Nature Study , we also enjoyed looking at our trees in a few really neat books: My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America and More Fun with Nature. These are both really great books for younger kids. They have really nice illustrations and good, but simple information.

JD Boy chose to study a Ponderosa Pine.

Our Western Ponderosa Pine (Pinus benthamiana). The tallest Western Ponderosa that has been measured was 275 feet tall. Ours is quite a long ways from that.

A close-up of the needles. Ponderosa needles grow in clumps of three and 6-12 inches in length.

My little tree-hugger with his tree.

Zippy chose to study a cedar behind our house.

Our Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata). I don’t know if you can tell from this picture that this tree gets brown patches in it during the autumn.

A close-up of the bark.

Zippy climbing her tree. It makes me nervous when the kids climb this tree. If they come down, they’ll land on our fence. This is definitely their favorite climbing tree though, so I’ll try to keep being brave and watch them climb.

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." Proverbs 15:4.